Life-saving raft.



W. J AOOR. LIFE SAVING RAFT.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 26, 1914.

9 4 Patented. Aug. 4, 1914;

f n 5 i g 7 fly I ATTORNEY WILLIAM' JACOB, OF SAN LEANIDRO, CALIFORNIA.

LIFE-SAVING RAFT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

atented An 4, 1914.

Application filed January 26, 1914. Serial No. 814,508.

To all whom. it may concern le it known that I, \VILLIAM JACOB, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Lcandro, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Life-Saving Rafts, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in life saving rafts, the object of the invention being to provide a raft of this character which will always assume a proper position for use in Whatever manner it is launched from the ship, will be very steady in the water, will be very strong, and will afford good protection to the passengers from waves hreakingover the raft.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved log raft; Fig. 2 is a vertical section thereof on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 33 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is an enlargcd detail sectional view taken on the line 4l of Fig. 5 of a non-return valve; Fig. 5 is a broken plan view of the same.

On referring to the drawing, it will be seen that my improved raft is dual in charactor, both sides-thereof being identical in forn'i and shape, so that when the raft is launched from a ship into the water it will present the same appearance whichever side comes uppermost.

The platform of the raft comprises logs or beau'is 1 in two layers, the beams of each layer fitting closely side by side, and being mortised into each other. The raft being made of beams can never sink and it floats evenly and is very strong, and capable of supporting a large number of people. On each side of the platform are secured longitudinal battens or strips 2 of wood spaced a considerable distance apart furnishing water outlets 3, and on the platform between its edges and the outermost battens is placed flooring l. Upon this flooring 4 is secured a second flooring 5, and upon the longitudinal battens 2 are secured transverse battens 6. also spaced from one another a considerable distance apart. These battens 6 are omitted at the central portion of the raft and there is secured on the battens 2 a circular flange '7 extending outwardly from the base of a cylinder 8 closed at the top and open at the bottom. Each cylinder is secured to the platform by means of four ties or braces 10. 'lhe cylinder or tank forms an anchor for the raft, for as soon as the raft is launched in the water the lower tank will fill quickly with water, and, as it will always be in the water, it will always be full, and since it is round, and secured to the bottom of the raft, it balances and steadies the raft against movement. in any direction and keeps the raft in a steady even position. My improved tank anchor needs no adjusting, as it is always ready for action, and is the same on either side, the lower cylinder serving as an anchor, while the upper is empty.

Upon the upper flooring t are secured heavy beams 9, and I may, if desired, secure to the edges of the raft pieces of cork to give it greater buoyancy. Upon said beams 2) closely adjacent to their inner edges are secured walls 11 cxtendirw nearly to the height of the top of the cylinder, so that the space between the beams forms a cabin or sitting room for the wrecked passengers. Secured to the inner side of said beams 9 are supports 12 for benches 13 upon which the occupants of the raft can sit, and which furnish a secure hold for the passengers. Upon the upper surfaces of the beams 9 and 1. near their outer edges are secured rails 14, 15 furnishing hand holds. To the-corners of the log raft are secured ends of ropes 17 to the other ends of which are secured floats 18. 25 indicates supports for four cars by which the raft can be propelled.

The wood used for the raft is the lightest which can be procured and I have found cypress very suitable for this purpose. This cypress is soaked with wood-preserving oil or other liquid so that it effectually excludes water therefrom.

In the water outlets .Z are placed valves 19, ach comprising a wooden aperturcd casing 20. a rubber cover 21 therefor. and a. curved rubber plate 22, which fits snugly on the casing 20 over the aperture thcretl'irough. \Vatcr flowing inwardly from the outside only tends to press said plate more firmly against the basc, while it is raised from the base by water flowing outwardly from the inside of the raft. 'lhc valves bcing made of rubber all close again as soon as water has passed through. On the inner sides of the water outlets are wire screens 2 L preventing anvthing passing to the valves from the inside f the raft. which would tend to clog or obstruct the water outlct.. The parts are secured together by bolts and nuts. The manner of so launching the raft into the water is immaterial, as it is always ready to receive the passengers, and the rope 1 lines permit the raft, to .be held as close as possible to the ship until the passengers have boarded the raft.

I claim 1. A raft comprising a central platform of heavy wooden beams, heavy beams on ,each side of said platform, cabin Walls secured to said beams on each side, supports secured to the inner sides of all of said beams, and benches upon said supports.

2. A raft comprising a central platform of heavy wooden beams, strips of wood on each. side of said platform, spaced apart tofurnish water outlets, non-return valves in all of said water outlets, heavy beams over said strips, on each side of the platform, and cabin Walls secured to said beams on each side. 3. A raft-comprising a central platform of heavy wooden beams, strips of wood on each side of said platform, heavy beams over said strips, cabin walls secured to said beams, and a cylinder on each side of said platform, closed at the outer end and open at the inner end."

4, A raft comprising-a, central platform of heavy'wooden beams, strips of Wood on each side of said platform, spaced apart to strips, cabin walls secured to said beamsiropes secured to the raft and floats secure to the ends of the ropes.

.In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing vvitnesse's.

WILLIAM JACOB. Witnesses F, M. WRIoiiT, v D. B. RICHARDS.

copies at this patent may be obtained for five centseach, by nddressingtha f Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. O." a a V 

